Fernando Ortiz
Encyclopedia
Fernando Ortiz Fernández (July 16, 1881 – ) was a Cuban
essayist, ethnomusicologist and scholar of Afro-Cuban
culture. Ortiz was a prolific polymath
dedicated to exploring, recording, and understanding all aspects of indigenous
Cuban culture. Ortiz coined the term transculturation
, the notion of converging cultures.
Disillusioned with politics
in the 'Pseudo-Republic' period of Cuban history and having been a member of the Liberal Party
, and a Liberal member of its House of Representatives
from 1917 to 1922, he became active in the early nationalist civic revival movement.
He helped found the journals Revista Bimestre Cubana, Archivos del Folklore Cubano and Estudios Afrocubanos.
Fernando Ortiz also developed a theory of activism within Cuba's political system saying their African traits characterized the Afro-Cubans negatively and primitively.
He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his 'love for culture and humankind' in 1955.
His books, La Africania de la Musica Folklorica de Cuba (1950), and Los Instrumentos de la Musica Afrocubana (1952 - 1955) are still regarded as key references in the study of Afro-Cuban music.
One of his most famous students is Miguel Barnet
, who has become a leading Cuban novelist, ethnographer and essayist.
Fernando Ortiz died in Havana
in 1969 and was interred there in the Colon Cemetery
.
Cubans
Cubans or Cuban people are the inhabitants or citizens of Cuba. Cuba is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
essayist, ethnomusicologist and scholar of Afro-Cuban
Afro-Cuban
The term Afro-Cuban refers to Cubans of Sub Saharan African ancestry, and to historical or cultural elements in Cuba thought to emanate from this community...
culture. Ortiz was a prolific polymath
Polymath
A polymath is a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. In less formal terms, a polymath may simply be someone who is very knowledgeable...
dedicated to exploring, recording, and understanding all aspects of indigenous
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
Cuban culture. Ortiz coined the term transculturation
Transculturation
Transculturation is a term coined by Cuban anthropologist Fernando Ortiz in 1940 to describe the phenomenon of merging and converging cultures....
, the notion of converging cultures.
Disillusioned with politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
in the 'Pseudo-Republic' period of Cuban history and having been a member of the Liberal Party
Cuban Liberal Union
The Cuban Liberal Union is a liberal party in Cuba. The party is a member of Liberal International.-See also:*Liberalism*Contributions to liberal theory*Liberalism worldwide*List of liberal parties*Liberal democracy*Liberalism in Cuba...
, and a Liberal member of its House of Representatives
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national states. In some countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often called a "senate". In other countries, the House of...
from 1917 to 1922, he became active in the early nationalist civic revival movement.
He helped found the journals Revista Bimestre Cubana, Archivos del Folklore Cubano and Estudios Afrocubanos.
Fernando Ortiz also developed a theory of activism within Cuba's political system saying their African traits characterized the Afro-Cubans negatively and primitively.
He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his 'love for culture and humankind' in 1955.
His books, La Africania de la Musica Folklorica de Cuba (1950), and Los Instrumentos de la Musica Afrocubana (1952 - 1955) are still regarded as key references in the study of Afro-Cuban music.
One of his most famous students is Miguel Barnet
Miguel Barnet
Miguel Barnet is a Cuban writer, novelist and ethnographer. He studied sociology at the University of Havana, under Fernando Ortiz , the pioneer of Cuban anthropology. Fernando Ortíz's studies of Afro-Cuban cultures influenced many of the themes, both literary and scholarly, of Barnet.-Early...
, who has become a leading Cuban novelist, ethnographer and essayist.
Fernando Ortiz died in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
in 1969 and was interred there in the Colon Cemetery
Colon Cemetery, Havana
The Colon Cemetery or more fully in the Spanish language Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón was founded in 1876 in the Vedado neighbourhood of Havana, Cuba on top of Espada Cemetery. Named for Christopher Columbus, the 140 acre cemetery is noted for its many elaborately sculpted memorials...
.